A defender in Major League Soccer has quit his team to train for the priesthood in the Catholic Church. Chase Hilgenbrinck, a 26-year-old left-back with the New England Revolution, said he was retiring from the game to attend a Catholic seminary in Maryland.
"After years of discernment, I feel strongly that the Lord has called me to become a priest in the Catholic Church," Hilgenbrinck told the club's website www.revolutionsoccer.net.
He said: "Though I will miss the game of soccer, I know that I am moving on to something much greater."
After college soccer in the U.S., Illinois native Hilgenbrinck spent four years in professional soccer in Chile before signing for the Revolution in March after a brief spell with the Colorado Rapids. He played four times for the Revolution.
"We understand Chase's decision to retire from soccer and pursue his mission of helping others and we support his desire to make this change in his life," said Revolution vice president of player personnel Michael Burns.
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